First "propper" lens, 17-55 f2.8 or 24-70 f4 L

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Kev132

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Firstly, i apologise, you guys must get sick of these threads !

i have a 7d, and im about to get my first "propper" lens, but after reading, and reading, and reading lots more im pretty sure ive narrowed it down to these two, they can be had for around the same price new,

What i like about the 17-55 is obviously the extra stop lower, and the wider capabilities, but i worry about the build quality, and dust issues it apparently has.

What i like about the 24-70 f4 is lets me honest, it's an L lens (unspeakable build quality and weather sealed) and i love the idea of the macro feature but will i suffer from the extra stop and the lack of width ?

its mostly going to be used in my small home studio, shooting newborns and children, but will no doubt get dragged into the occasional friends wedding etc

i think the deal sealer might be, as strange as it sounds i *think* my 2x canon extender ive never had a lens i could use it with, will work with the 24-70, but not the 17-55 ?

sorry, like i said you must get sick of these threads, but i really could do with some help from people that have used both, preferably on a crop body

TYIA
 
Ok I'll give you my opinion as I've owned both on a 7D.

Yes the 24-70 L is a brilliant lens, but I found myself having to keep taking steps back to get everything into frame at 24mm. So in the end i hired a 17-55 and gave that a try & loved it.

I take mostly pictures of my boy, friends & myself biking & at family events & weddings, the image quality is fantastic. It's fast at focusing & having the IS on it is very handy too.

The build quality is just fine. I've had mine for 3 years now & nothing has gone wrong with it. I hasn't even developed the typical lens creep when it's being carried upside down. I've just has a look too and there's no dust to been seen inside.

But it's ultimately down to you and what you're going to feel happy using. But in my experience on a crop sensor, 24mm just wasn't wide enough, especially trying to get group shots at weddings & christenings.
 
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I had a 24-70 2.8 on my 7D whilst I was waiting to get my 5Dmkiii. Whilst I got some great shots on it I found myself missing the wide angle shots I was getting on my 15-85mm. If I hadn't been going full frame a few months after having the 24-70 I wouldn't have been able to live with it.
Also dust really isn't a big issue even if it does get in lenses, go for the lens that's made for crop.
 
Thanks guys, appreciate the input, just to confirm its the 24-70 f4l (with IS and macro capability)
 
Also any confirmations that the 17-55 won't work with my teleconverter ?
 
I'm afraid I do not own either, But all the baby shoots I see seem to favour wider aperture prime lenses so people can focus on baby feet and blur out babies! I guess you could do that on the long end of a 24-70 but you wouldn't get much in the frame unless you're fairly far back in your studio.
I have no experience in that market whatsoever though besides what I have observed online
 
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If you want a 24-70, then I would suggest the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD, superb lens, and for roughly the price of the Canon f4. Has IS, and recently came top in the test of 24-70 lenses in Advanced Photographer magazine. Superb value for money.

But I echo other posters views that 24mm may not be wide enough on a crop (especially for Wedding Group shots)
 
Noooo don't throw other len's in the mix, it's tore my brain to pieces narrowing down to those two ! Ha, thank you I'll have a look at it though a 2.8 with is does sound amazing
 
The 2x extender won't work with either lens so dismiss that from your decision making.

Bob
 
Which lenses do you currently have? Can you try out the different focal length/apeture limitations on one of your current lenses (or a friend's) and see how you get on?

Out of curiosity, why have you got a 2 x converter if you've never had a lens to use it with? I'd concentrate on choosing the right mid-range zoom and then if you need a telephoto look at putting the TC towards one of the Canon 70-200 varieties which are all great.
 
The only lens that'll tempt me away from my 17-55 is a Sigma 18-35 1.8, I hired one of these for natural light/no flash shots at a family wedding & a birthday party. The results I got even a f1.8 were amazing. Such an underrated lens!!
 
jeff127 said:
Which lenses do you currently have? Can you try out the different focal length/apeture limitations on one of your current lenses (or a friend's) and see how you get on?

Out of curiosity, why have you got a 2 x converter if you've never had a lens to use it with? I'd concentrate on choosing the right mid-range zoom and then if you need a telephoto look at putting the TC towards one of the Canon 70-200 varieties which are all great.
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a few years back, i was really into shooting motorsport and wildlife, and purchased it not being sure it would not work with the sigma lens i have, kept it as planned on getting a 70-200 at some point but never got round to it !

forgot to mention i have a 50 1.8 i'll be keeping until i invest in the 1.4 or 1.2, but will probably pick up an 85 before either of those :)

Looks pretty nailed on to the 17-55 then guys, thanks for your input ! now to see if i can find a good second hand one before i get inpatient and buy a new one !

(Edit)

Thanks bob, not really sure why i should have been taking it into consideration anyway as not what its for, but might of had some use !

boy the Tamron 24-70 does look mighty fine though ! and around the same price again !
 
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+1 for the 17-55, I have both APS-c and L series lenses and the 17-55 while not having the weather sealing (It would need to be a very extreme environment to matter tbh) is a very well put together lens and the optical qualiy is superb. My favourite lens at weddings and events.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
If you think you are going to go FF with Canon at any point in the future then the Tamron really is a no-brainer. If you are staying with APS-C then I would suggest something wider than 24mm at the wide end.
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6d next but probably be at least 18 months away, would rather buy the right one now and sell to buy the right one when I upgrade as the lens seems to hold fair value of looked after :)
 
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